NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Clay Millican is still trying to chase down that elusive first NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series victory, but a new approach and a team entering its third year together has provided a recipe Millican believes will lead to a win sooner rather than later.

As for how soon, Millican is confident it won’t be long in his 10,000-horsepower Great Clips/Parts Plus dragster, and perhaps as quickly as this weekend’s 18th annual Denso Spark Plugs NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. 

“I think a win is right around the corner,” said Millican, who has eight career finals appearances. “It’s just a matter of when we’re supposed to win. Every weekend we go, I think it’s going to be the weekend. I really feel like we can get a win. This is our third year with this group and I think it’s the best group of people working on this car this team has ever had. They looked like they were in mid-season form after the first test session. They know what they’re doing and they’re not second-guessing it.”

Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Alexis DeJoria (Funny Car) and Jason Line (Pro Stock) were last year’s winners of the event that will be televised on FOX Sports 1, including three hours of live finals coverage starting at 6 p.m. (ET) on Sunday. The first of two annual stops in the high-stakes city is the fourth of 24 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series events during the 2017 season, and Millican enters the race ninth in points after falling in the second round to eventual winner and eight-time world champion Tony Schumacher at the most recent race in Gainesville, Fla.

Millican has grabbed round wins at each of the past two events this season, but after posting a career-best run of 3.689 at 328.38 mph at the fall race in Vegas last year, there’s been an early-season shift for crew chief David Grubnic and Millican’s team. The performance is still there – Millican ran 3.71 in Phoenix – but Millican believes a different focus will have a payoff throughout the season.

“I think our goal this year has been to try to find some consistency,” Millican said. “We didn’t miss the mark too much at Gainesville and went down the track five out of six runs, which is fantastic. We’re going to try to maintain that without giving away a ton of performance. I feel like our chances of winning are way better the more you go down the racetrack. Plus, the more runs you make down the track, the more information you get for when you do you need to push it.” 

Millican hopes that balance allows his team to end up in the winner’s circle on Sunday. Getting that first victory will be difficult facing off against a loaded field that includes points leader and two-time 2017 winner Leah Pritchett, three-time defending world champ Brown, Schumacher, Doug Kalitta and Brittany Force. No matter the outcome, you will surely find Millican with a smile on his face all weekend.

“I’ve been in a final round there and we run well there,” Millican said. “This first (Las Vegas) race is especially fun because it’s the DENSO (Spark Plugs NHRA) Nationals and we are the DENSO car. That makes it a lot of fun. I really enjoy the Vegas races and I really enjoy being around the DENSO people. As long we’re talking about what we do as a race team, I can talk all day long. When it comes to talking racing, I can talk with the best of them.”                               

To purchase general-admission or reserved seats, call (800) 884-NHRA (6472) or visit www.NHRA.com/tickets. Kids 12 and under are free in general admission areas with a paid adult.